This document provides guidance on how to write an annotated bibliography. It explains that an annotated bibliography allows one to learn about a topic and develop their own point of view. Each annotation should include a citation in MLA format, a summary of the source, and an explanation of how the source relates to the research topic. Quotes can be used to support claims. The annotations should be in alphabetical order and follow general MLA formatting guidelines. The annotated bibliography helps to review literature and establish what has already been said about the research topic.

1. How to write Your Annotated Bib

2. Why should I write one? To learn about your topic Learn “what’s been said” Develop your own point of view To see what the issues are, what people are arguing about

3. Format: Introduction Your bib needs to have a brief (approx. 1 paragraph) introduction that includes: Purpose of the bib Ties your sources together Describes your bib’s usefulness to your topic

4. Sample Introduction: The purpose of my annotated bibliography is to explore the question, “Does the FCAT Writes test really determine how well a student will write in composition class?” Through my research, I have found sources claiming that the FCAT Writes can help students become better writers (Smith; Jones; Meri) and others who claim that the FCAT Writes exam should be completely eliminated (Wayne; Emig; Rice). Though these sources do not directly answer my question, they have helped me to identify the reasons for the implementation of the FCAT Writes exam and the potential benefits of the test. Other sources have also pointed to the negative impact that the test can have on students. By analyzing these sources, I hope to conduct a study to answer my research question within my Composition II class.

5. Format: Annotations Each annotation should start with a citation in MLA format: Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. New York: Anchor Books, 1995. Print.

6. Format: Annotations Next, follow the steps for writing the first paragraph of a rhetorical precis for each of your articles:

7. Don’t forget Snooki! Snookiasserts that becoming a Snooki requires a tan, pink lipstick, a poof, and animal prints. Snookisupports this assertion by transforming a young girl into a Snooki by doing her makeup and hair, and giving her an animal print scarf. Her purpose was to show that becoming a Snooki requires a hair and makeup transformation in order to have the perfect Snooki look. Her intended audience is young girls who look up to Snooki, and she targets this audience by using a young girl in her example.

8. Format: Annotations In your second paragraph, explain how the claims made by the author are relevant to your research topic.

9. Example: Emig argues, “The FCAT Writes exam is useful to the students’ writing abilities, because it teaches them to write an essay in a structured way” (78). Though the FCAT Writes does provide students with a way to structure their essays, I’m not sure that this structure really helps them be better writers in college. For this reason, I will use Emig’s claim to show that though some people support the structure of the FCAT Writes exam, there are other structures that can be useful to students and their college-writing abilities. Though Emig focuses on providing a history of the FCAT Writes exam, I will be using her argument for the test’s implementation in my research paper.

10. General Formatting List each entry in alphabetical order Do not number your entries Follow MLA format for all entries Double space your bibliography Do not add extra spaces between entries Use hanging indent after the first line of citation

11. Example 1 Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. New York: Anchor Books, 1995. Print. Lamott asserts that students argue mostly with their own inner critic when writing a paper. She supports this assertion through a variety of anecdotes, in which she uses humor to display students’ insecurities with their own writing abilities. Her purpose was to show that students should be more confident when writing, because they are often their own tough critics. Her intended audience includes writing students and teachers, and she targets this audience by using anecdotes from both the student and the teacher perspectives on writing.

12. Lamott’s book is relevant to my topic because she focuses on the students’ writing processes as determinants of their confidence with writing. Stating, “Students’ lack of confidence with writing often limits their abilities,” meaning that students limit their writing potential when they doubt themselves, Lamott argues that writing teachers should work to increase their students’ confidence with writing (89).Several of the chapters in Part 1 address the writing process and would serve to generate discussion on students' own drafting and revising processes. Though Lammott does not answer my research question directly, I will use her description of the writing process to explain how students are often lacking confidence in their writing abilities.

13. How many annotations should I have? No less than 8

14. How do I incorporate my article review and annotated bib into my research project? Both the article review and annotated bib will help you write your review of the literature Your review of the literature will go directly into your research paper You will use this section to describe “what’s been said” about your topic and establish your niche.

15. Should we use quotes in our annotations? Yes, you should incorporate quotes to support your claims about the article, usually (but not always) in your second paragraph. You can also refute these claims in your second paragraph.

16. A Few MLA Guidelines Perl, Sondra. “The Composing Processes of Unskilled College Writers.” Writing about Writing: A College Reader. Ed. ElizabethWardle and Doug Downs. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2001.235-54. Print.

17. As stated by Perl, “Tony was worried about writing rules” (295). It was also clear that “Tony was worried about writing rules” (Perl 295).

18. Don’t Forget!